Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa ?

Identifies Bhasa as a 'great dramatist' known for several plays rediscovered recently — establishes a pattern that Bhasa is associated in these sources with plays/dramatic works.

A student could check whether Natyashastra is described as a play (like those explicitly linked to Bhasa) or as a different kind of work (e.g., a technical treatise), to judge plausibility of Bhasa authorship.

Lists classical dramatists (Kalidasa, Sudraka, Visakhadatta) alongside their named plays, showing that authorship in this literature is typically tied to specific dramas.

Compare whether Natyashastra appears in similar lists of dramatists/plays or instead in lists of technical/theoretical texts to assess likelihood that a playwright authored it.

Explains that literary works often have complex transmission and attribution histories (oral composition, later Brahmanas committing to writing), indicating authorship claims can be uncertain or assigned later.

Use this rule to treat any claim that Bhasa authored Natyashastra cautiously and seek earlier manuscript or citation evidence distinguishing original composition from later attribution.

Gives an example (Mahabharata) where a very large text is 'traditionally attributed' to a named sage (Vyasa), illustrating the common pattern of traditional attributions that may not reflect single authorship.

Apply this pattern to suspect that attribution of a major or canonical work (like Natyashastra) to a single named dramatist should be checked against philological and historical evidence rather than accepted from tradition alone.

Notes dating of plays (e.g., Mudrarakshasa written during Gupta period) showing that specific dramatic works are dated and located in literary-historical contexts.

A student could look for similar dating/contextual references for Natyashastra; if its scholarly dating differs from the period associated with Bhasa's plays, that would weigh against his authorship.

Explicitly names Bhasa as a 'great dramatist' whose plays were re-discovered about a hundred years ago, showing Bhasa is a known corpus author with multiple plays.

A student could check lists of plays commonly ascribed to Bhasa (knowing he exists and has several works) to see if Madhyama-vyayoga appears among them.

Notes that most literature of the period has not survived and many works are known only by later mention, indicating attribution can be uncertain or reconstructed.

Use this rule to treat attributions cautiously and look for manuscript or historical evidence linking Madhyama-vyayoga specifically to Bhasa rather than assuming attribution.

Provides examples of classical dramatists (Kalidasa, Sudraka, Visakhadatta) with specific plays attached, illustrating the scholarly practice of pairing playwrights with named works.

A student could consult catalogues of classical plays (like those listing Kalidasa/Sudraka works) to see whether Madhyama-vyayoga is similarly paired with Bhasa in such catalogs.

Shows that plays are dated and attributed (e.g., Mudrarakshasa by Visakhadatta) using literary-historical methods, implying attribution requires documentary or stylistic support.

Apply similar dating/attribution methods (manuscript evidence, stylistic comparison) to test whether Madhyama-vyayoga plausibly belongs to Bhasa.

Identifies Bhasa specifically as a dramatist and author of several plays, establishing his primary association with drama rather than grammatical treatises.

A student could use this genre-association to doubt that a major grammatical work (Mahabhashya) would be authored by someone presented here only as a playwright.

States that Patanjali wrote the Mahabhashya on Sanskrit grammar, directly linking that title to a grammarian rather than to a dramatist.

A student could combine this explicit attribution to Patanjali with the knowledge that Mahabhashya is a grammatical commentary to argue it is unlikely to be Bhasa’s work.

Mentions specific authors (Visakhadatta) and their literary genres (play Mudrarakshasa) being associated with particular historical periods, showing how works are usually attributed by genre and period in these sources.

A student could check relative historical attributions and genres to see whether timelines and typical subject-matter attribution support or contradict Bhasa being author of a grammar.

Shows the practice of attributing literary works (e.g., Arthashastra and the play Mudrarakshasa) to named authors, indicating that school texts distinguish between types of authors and their works.

A student could use this pattern to expect that a major grammatical treatise would be consistently attributed to a known grammarian in these sources, not to a dramatist like Bhasa.